Kenya rebukes EU ambassadors over election comments seen as discrediting top candidate

NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya's foreign minister has rebuked European Union ambassadors over what the minister says appears to be an orchestrated attempt to influence Kenya's presidential election.

Foreign Minster Sam Ongeri called in the ambassadors on Monday to relay his displeasure over statements made last week from some European countries about how they will not meet with suspects indicted by the International Criminal Court.

Kenya holds a presidential election in early March. One of the top contenders for president is Uhuru Kenyatta, who faces charges before the ICC related to postelection violence that killed more than 1,000 people after Kenya's last presidential election.

Last week the U.S., France and Switzerland made statements that appeared to caution Kenyans against voting for Kenyatta. A diplomatic note was sent to the U.S. asking for an explanation.